For the first time since its inception, the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies will host its innovative Summer Institute for Faculty (SI) virtually, a move that organizers made in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic also forced the cancellation of what was to be the 12th annual SI in 2020.
From June 14-16, 2021, academics in the U.S. and globally who want to launch peace studies programs at their colleges or universities, or strengthen or develop a new dimension of their peace studies program that takes it to the next level of design and rigor are invited to join Kroc Institute faculty, staff, and graduate students for an interactive, four-day virtual seminar. Topics will range from how to build and sustain a peace studies program, to sessions on conflict transformation, justice and peace studies, decolonizing the peace curriculum, and building self-care and resilience in our work. Practitioners and organizational leaders interested in integrating various peace studies concepts into their workplaces are also welcome to apply this year.
Since it began in 2009, the Summer Institute has hosted 400+ attendees from over 100 different institutions—including 23 Catholic colleges and universities—across 6 continents. In addition, Kroc Institute faculty have conducted modified Summer Institute programs in Colombia and Uganda.
“This will be an extraordinary and lively year of colleagues coming together to discuss curricular planning and share ideas about some of the vital issues facing national and global societies that we address in our classes,” said George Lopez, director of the SI. “We are creating a program where both individual faculty development, as well as faculty team building, can emerge from the resources and interactive sessions that will unfold in June.”
Prior to the event, attendees will be given access to a suite of educational resources from the Kroc Institute to prepare them for live sessions during the week of SI.
This year’s event will be free of charge, but attendees must register ahead of time. For more information and to apply, visit kroc.nd.edu/SummerInstitute.